The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe is asking anglers to watch out for scour chains in the Dungeness River. The tribe is very active in both restoring salmon habitat and researching the causes of the decline of salmon in the Dungeness. Scour chain can be identified by the 4 to 6 inch, red or black, float connected to a thin wire. At the other end of the wire are 10 golf wiffle balls buried vertically in the bed. If the gravel moves during a flood, some of the wiffle balls will be released down the wire, allowing us to later determine the depth of scour. If too much gravel shifts, salmon nests will are disturbed and the salmon eggs incubating in the gravel can be killed.

It’s easy to understand how anglers might damage the chains; hooks can easily become tangled up in the rigging, which can be aggravating to anyone. Anglers can easily dislodge their rigging from the chains by wading in a short distance and unhooking themselves.

By improving habitat on the Dungeness River, the Jamestown Tribe is working to improve salmon runs for everyone, sports and tribal fisherman alike. More fish in the Dungeness River benefits everyone. If you have any questions about scour chains or habitat restoration on the Dungeness River, feel free to give me a call at (360) 681-4615 or email me at brot@jamestowntribe.org.

Byron Rot,
Habitat Biologist
Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe

I have seen the things you are talking about. I will respect your wishes to leave them alone because I am all for restoring habitat and the salmon runs.

Treatyfisher,
Please contact me, I'm very interested in tribal programs for restoring/enhancing salmon and steelhead runs and would like to talk to you about them.
Thanks,
Preston Singletary, associate editor
Flyfishing & Tying Journal
psinglet@gte.net